Book Lists Mariel's Booklist 1. At Ellis Island: A History in Many Voices by Louise Peacock This story tells the many experiences that people of all different ages went through when traveling to Ellis Island. This inspirational book of quotes gives us information on why people would want to leave their native country and travel to America, and how life was like on the ship and going through Ellis Island. This book shows the truth about how people felt about journeying to America and how life was like during the early 1900s.
2. Liberty’s Voice by Erica Silverman illustrated by Stacey Schuett In the year 1849 there was a young girl named Emma Lazarus who had a passion for poetry. Emma loved to write poetry, and felt it was important to share with people the impoverish life in Eastern Europe around that time period. This is such a great resource to use in your classroom because it tells a wonderful story about a girl who went outside of the box, and pursued what she believed in.
3. Dreaming of America An Ellis Island Story by Eve Bunting This story tells us about a 15 year old girl, Annie who is traveling to America with her two younger brothers. This fictional story shows readers that immigrants had to separate from their families back from their countries in order to have a better life in America.
4. When Jessie Came Across the Sea by Amy Hest illustrated by P.J. Lynch This story tells the journey of a young girl from her small European village traveling to America. Jessie leaves her grandmother for a better life in and a new love in America. Not sure when Jessie will see her grandmother again, Jessie tried to find work that will save enough money for her grandmother to travel to America.
Courtney's Booklist 1. What Was Ellis Island? by Patricia Brennan Demuth What Was Ellis Island? explains in basic terms all about Ellis Island. It describes the island as the gateway to a new life in the United States for millions of immigrants. It then goes to point out that the island was deserted leaving the buildings to decay and was not restored until almost 30 years later when Americans donated money from all over the country. In 1990, Ellis Island opened again to the public as a museum that you can even visit today.
2. We Came Through Ellis Island: The Immigrant Adventures of Emma Markowitz by Gare Thompson We Came Through Ellis Island is a biography of a 12 year old Jewish girl and her family who move from Russia to New York City to create a new life for themselves. This book is a fact filled narrative including photos, letters, and journal entries from Emma and her family.
3. At Ellis Island: A History in Many Voices by Louise Peacock At Ellis Island explains how the island was a gateway to America and the promise of freedom. The book then goes on to talk about a girl who is visiting Ellis Island and thinking about the experiences of people who came to the United States through Ellis Island. The book also references quotes from immigrants who came through Ellis Island during the early 1900s.
4. Ellis Island Interviews: In Their Own Words by Peter M. Coan Ellis Island Interviews is a collection of oral histories from over 130 men and women who passed through Ellis Island. The immigrants describe, in detail, the life they left behind, why they came, what they endured, and what became of them. This book is full of primary sources that reveal immigrants’ experiences of entering through Ellis Island.
Kelsey's Booklist
1. Your Name Was Changed at Ellis Island by Ellen Levine This was a book that answered general questions about how the process worked at Ellis Island. The way it is structured is there is a question asked at the top of each page and then a detailed answer is provided to fill students knowledge on immigration. Some of the questions included “How long would a trip take?” and “What happened if the doctors found something wrong with you?”
2. Ellis Island: Doorway to Freedom by Steven Kroll This was a great story that described all the different stages that the immigrants had to go through when arriving at Ellis Island. It included a description of all the stations and different aspects such as the doctors examining all the immigrants. It included detail pictures that gave you a feel for how people dressed and felt back then!
3. Ellis Island by Thomas S. Owens This was a non-fictional short read that included informational facts about Ellis Island. It included real pictures from back in the day and how Ellis Island looks today as well! Captions for the pictures were provided along with a glossary to define unfamiliar words.
4. What was Ellis Island? by Patricia Brennan Demuth, Kevin McVeigh and David Groff This series of books (What was.. and Who is..) are an exciting way for children to learn about significant figures and places in our country. It is an easy and engaging read for students that have to learn all the detailed facts about Ellis Island. It is titled “What Was Ellis Island” because it is speaking about the past rather than how Ellis Island is today. Some aspects included in this book are timelines, pictures, and side notes on facts such as how the portraits were taken of the immigrants. There is also a “What is the Statue of Liberty” to further the knowledge on Lady Liberty!
Katie's Booklist
1. At Ellis Island: A History in Many Voices by Louise Peacock This book contains information that is both fiction and nonfiction is a book of “voices” (quotes and letters) from children who have either visited Ellis Island in remembrance of their ancestors or who came through Ellis Island themselves. The children share their experiences about their hopes and dreams coming to America, their first thoughts about the United States, and what they endured at Ellis Island. The book also contains many drawings and actual pictures from early 1900s to help illustrate the key historical information.
2. If Your Name Was Changed at Ellis Island by Ellen Levine This is an interactive nonfiction history book written in a question-and-answer format that allows the reader to step into the shoes of an immigrant. It also brings to light many of the important and interesting questions about Ellis Island and immigration, such as what would children do all do on the boat to America and what would you eat at Ellis Island, in addition to many others. Furthermore, the answers to these questions are written very clearly and with younger readers in mind.
3. Hope in My Heart: Sofia's Immigrant Diary by Kathryn Lasky This is the first book of the historical fiction series entitled “My America.” This book tells the story of young Sofia’s journey from Italy to Ellis Island where she is separated from her parents, detained, and quarantined for being unhealthy. While in the state-run hospital she becomes friends with another young girl immigrating to America and together they overcome the struggles of being away from their families in a new and frightening country.
4. Annushka's Voyage By Edith Tarbescu This historical fiction picture book details the journey that young Annushka and Tanya make from Russia to Ellis Island to reunite with their father. It highlights their specific traveling experiences from their house in Russia, to their ship in Holland, and finally through their time at Ellis Island, including being seasick, encountering many other interesting people on the ship, and waiting in the dreadfully long lines at Ellis Island.
Mariel's Booklist
1. At Ellis Island: A History in Many Voices by Louise Peacock
This story tells the many experiences that people of all different ages went through when traveling to Ellis Island. This inspirational book of quotes gives us information on why people would want to leave their native country and travel to America, and how life was like on the ship and going through Ellis Island. This book shows the truth about how people felt about journeying to America and how life was like during the early 1900s.
2. Liberty’s Voice by Erica Silverman illustrated by Stacey Schuett
In the year 1849 there was a young girl named Emma Lazarus who had a passion for poetry. Emma loved to write poetry, and felt it was important to share with people the impoverish life in Eastern Europe around that time period. This is such a great resource to use in your classroom because it tells a wonderful story about a girl who went outside of the box, and pursued what she believed in.
3. Dreaming of America An Ellis Island Story by Eve Bunting
This story tells us about a 15 year old girl, Annie who is traveling to America with her two younger brothers. This fictional story shows readers that immigrants had to separate from their families back from their countries in order to have a better life in America.
4. When Jessie Came Across the Sea by Amy Hest illustrated by P.J. Lynch
This story tells the journey of a young girl from her small European village traveling to America. Jessie leaves her grandmother for a better life in and a new love in America. Not sure when Jessie will see her grandmother again, Jessie tried to find work that will save enough money for her grandmother to travel to America.
Courtney's Booklist
1. What Was Ellis Island? by Patricia Brennan Demuth
What Was Ellis Island? explains in basic terms all about Ellis Island. It describes the island as the gateway to a new life in the United States for millions of immigrants. It then goes to point out that the island was deserted leaving the buildings to decay and was not restored until almost 30 years later when Americans donated money from all over the country. In 1990, Ellis Island opened again to the public as a museum that you can even visit today.
2. We Came Through Ellis Island: The Immigrant Adventures of Emma Markowitz by Gare Thompson
We Came Through Ellis Island is a biography of a 12 year old Jewish girl and her family who move from Russia to New York City to create a new life for themselves. This book is a fact filled narrative including photos, letters, and journal entries from Emma and her family.
3. At Ellis Island: A History in Many Voices by Louise Peacock
At Ellis Island explains how the island was a gateway to America and the promise of freedom. The book then goes on to talk about a girl who is visiting Ellis Island and thinking about the experiences of people who came to the United States through Ellis Island. The book also references quotes from immigrants who came through Ellis Island during the early 1900s.
4. Ellis Island Interviews: In Their Own Words by Peter M. Coan
Ellis Island Interviews is a collection of oral histories from over 130 men and women who passed through Ellis Island. The immigrants describe, in detail, the life they left behind, why they came, what they endured, and what became of them. This book is full of primary sources that reveal immigrants’ experiences of entering through Ellis Island.
Kelsey's Booklist
1. Your Name Was Changed at Ellis Island by Ellen Levine
This was a book that answered general questions about how the process worked at Ellis Island. The way it is structured is there is a question asked at the top of each page and then a detailed answer is provided to fill students knowledge on immigration. Some of the questions included “How long would a trip take?” and “What happened if the doctors found something wrong with you?”
2. Ellis Island: Doorway to Freedom by Steven Kroll
This was a great story that described all the different stages that the immigrants had to go through when arriving at Ellis Island. It included a description of all the stations and different aspects such as the doctors examining all the immigrants. It included detail pictures that gave you a feel for how people dressed and felt back then!
3. Ellis Island by Thomas S. Owens
This was a non-fictional short read that included informational facts about Ellis Island. It included real pictures from back in the day and how Ellis Island looks today as well! Captions for the pictures were provided along with a glossary to define unfamiliar words.
4. What was Ellis Island? by Patricia Brennan Demuth, Kevin McVeigh and David Groff
This series of books (What was.. and Who is..) are an exciting way for children to learn about significant figures and places in our country. It is an easy and engaging read for students that have to learn all the detailed facts about Ellis Island. It is titled “What Was Ellis Island” because it is speaking about the past rather than how Ellis Island is today. Some aspects included in this book are timelines, pictures, and side notes on facts such as how the portraits were taken of the immigrants. There is also a “What is the Statue of Liberty” to further the knowledge on Lady Liberty!
Katie's Booklist
1. At Ellis Island: A History in Many Voices by Louise Peacock
This book contains information that is both fiction and nonfiction is a book of “voices” (quotes and letters) from children who have either visited Ellis Island in remembrance of their ancestors or who came through Ellis Island themselves. The children share their experiences about their hopes and dreams coming to America, their first thoughts about the United States, and what they endured at Ellis Island. The book also contains many drawings and actual pictures from early 1900s to help illustrate the key historical information.
2. If Your Name Was Changed at Ellis Island by Ellen Levine
This is an interactive nonfiction history book written in a question-and-answer format that allows the reader to step into the shoes of an immigrant. It also brings to light many of the important and interesting questions about Ellis Island and immigration, such as what would children do all do on the boat to America and what would you eat at Ellis Island, in addition to many others. Furthermore, the answers to these questions are written very clearly and with younger readers in mind.
3. Hope in My Heart: Sofia's Immigrant Diary by Kathryn Lasky
This is the first book of the historical fiction series entitled “My America.” This book tells the story of young Sofia’s journey from Italy to Ellis Island where she is separated from her parents, detained, and quarantined for being unhealthy. While in the state-run hospital she becomes friends with another young girl immigrating to America and together they overcome the struggles of being away from their families in a new and frightening country.
4. Annushka's Voyage By Edith Tarbescu
This historical fiction picture book details the journey that young Annushka and Tanya make from Russia to Ellis Island to reunite with their father. It highlights their specific traveling experiences from their house in Russia, to their ship in Holland, and finally through their time at Ellis Island, including being seasick, encountering many other interesting people on the ship, and waiting in the dreadfully long lines at Ellis Island.